Characters: Gin, Rangiku
Summary: As good as it gets.
Pairings: GinRan
Warnings/Spoilers: Vague spoilers; AU
Timeline: No specific timeline
Author's Note: This is basically a "What if Aizen won?" universe. Gin's still plotting to kill him; he's just had to change his plans around a bit. Please keep that in mind when reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
He puts a considerable amount of force into his arms as she's slammed up against the alley wall, maybe a bit more ruthless in his force than necessary because he's so surprised and angered to see her there at all, when she should have fled so long ago.
"What are you doing here?" he hisses, and Rangiku is grimly satisfied to note that there's still an undercurrent of concern in his voice.
Gin wears white now, just another measure of defiance against the ways of the old Seireitei, before it fell to the might of Hueco Mundo. White swirls in anger at his throat and wrists as he glares into Rangiku's face, hands pressing hard into her shoulders.
"Trying to stay alive," Rangiku retorts, hissing the same as he is, and some of the wild, unreasoning anger goes out of Gin's face, as he loosens his grip on her skin. It gets easier for Rangiku to breathe and harder at the same time.
A few figures cast in shadow pass by the alley and Gin's head snaps around, like a tense little cat. If they notice them, nothing is done.
Rangiku can't understand why he's so nervous. He's not the one risking his neck by being here.
He turns his attention back to her, and squinting eyes level on her face, odd emotions swirling there. "Then try a little harder, Rangiku."
Her sickened rage flares at this point, though all Rangiku can do is glower and wish he would take his hands off her, wish he wouldn't, wish she'd never woken up to find this nightmare where her reality should have been.
She's angry, but why, why can't she hate him now, after everything that's happened?
Gin leans down and kisses her then, almost as if trying to stop Rangiku's mangled, screaming heart altogether. It is unwanted, welcome, and Rangiku feels a sudden, hot and choking sob rise in her throat before she pushes it down, ruthlessly. Her stomach's still twisting itself into knots, and he won't let go.
When this moment passes away, Gin's expression is unreadable, and his voice considerably softer than before, as he lets go of her shoulders. "Don't come here again, Rangiku. I'll have to kill you, if you do."
It's a lie.
Gin always lies.
And Rangiku can't understand how she was never able to see it before.
Her smile is biting and sarcastic as she starts to walk away, trying her best to melt into the shadows again. "You'd have to catch me first."
And the look Gin gives her before he disappears from view indicates that that wouldn't be entirely unwelcome.